NEFAI 2017

About the New England First Amendment Institute

Journalists from a variety of media and all six New England states will gather Oct. 29-31 in Boston to learn the latest investigative and database reporting techniques and public records access skills. The fellows chosen for this seventh annual New England First Amendment Institute reflect today’s diverse news media and come from daily and weekly newspapers, television and radio stations and online publications. Learn more about previous institutes here.

Supporters

This year’s institute is made possible by the generosity of the Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund, the program’s primary supporter; as well as Northeastern University, the New England Newspaper & Press Association, the Academy of New England Journalists, Boston University and the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Foundation.

Other supporters of NEFAC for this year include the Barr Foundation, The Robertson Foundation, Lois Howe McClure, The Boston Globe, The Hartford Courant and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Location

Northeastern University, Boston

The institute will be held at Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Mass. For more than 40 years, the university’s School of Journalism has combined academic excellence with practical experience, preparing students to be analytical thinkers and successful communicators. Here’s more information on Northeastern University. A campus map can be found here.

Capo Restaurant and Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant, South Boston

Dinner on Oct. 29 will be served at Capo Restaurant, 443 W. Broadway in South Boston. On Oct. 30, there will be dinner and a presentation at Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant, 425 W. Broadway in South Boston.

Courtyard by Marriott Boston-South Boston, Boston

Lodging will be available at the Courtyard by Marriott, 63R Boston Street in Boston. Please notify NEFAC if a hotel room is needed.

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Institute Materials

• Schedule
• Program
• Evaluations (Closed)
• Storify

Application Materials — (Closed)

• Application and Recommendation Form

NEFAI 2017 News

• Watchdog Reporters: How to Dig Deep for In-Depth Stories | NENPA
• Creating Narrative Tension | NENPA
• Panelists Share Tips on How to Enlist, Engage News Sources | NENPA
• Ex-AP Top Editor Advises Journalists to Engage with Readers, Do Investigations | NENPA
• Reporters Share Tips on How to Enlist, Engage News Sources
• Rezendes: Trust Your Hunches
• McGrory: Globe Focuses on Delivering News Readers Find Worth Their Time and Money
• Former AP Top Editor Advises Journalists to Engage with Readers, Investigate and Collaborate
• Watchdog Reporters Show How to Dig Deep for In-Depth Stories
• Globe Editor McGrory Talks Numbers at First Amendment Gathering | Media Nation
• NEFAC Announces Journalism Fellows for Annual New England First Amendment Institute
• David Barboza of The New York Times to Provide Keynote Address at 2017 New England First Amendment Institute
• Application Deadline Aug. 31 for New England First Amendment Institute; Local Reporters
Encouraged to Apply
• 2017 New England First Amendment Institute Applications Available; Deadline Aug. 31

Speakers and Presenters Include

• David Barboza | The New York Times
• Mike Beaudet | WCVB-Boston, Northeastern University
• Robert A. Bertsche | Prince Lobel Tye, LLP
• Dieter Bradbury | Portland Press Herald
• Kathleen Carroll | Associated Press (formerly)
• Peter J. Caruso, Sr. | Caruso and Caruso, LLP
• Mike Donoghue | Burlington Free Press (formerly)
• Lia Ernst | ACLU of Vermont
• Eric Eyre | Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette-Mail
• Thomas Fiedler | Boston University
• Meghan Foley | Keene Sentinel
• Josh Gerstein | Politico
• Rick Gagliuso | Gagliuso and Gagliuso, PA
• Cindy Galli | ABC News
• Kyle Jones | WMTW-Portland
• Matt Kauffman | Hartford Courant
• Kristen Lombardi | Center for Public Integrity
• Wesley Lowery | The Washington Post
• Raymond A. Marcaccio | Oliverio & Marcaccio, LLP
• Brian McGrory | The Boston Globe
• Jenifer McKim | New England Center for Investigative Reporting
• Amanda Milkovits | Providence Journal
• Eric Moskowitz | The Boston Globe
• Shawn Musgrave | New England Center for Investigative Reporting (formerly)
• Eric Rasmussen | Boston 25 News
• Michael Rezendes | The Boston Globe
• Sigmund Schutz | Preti Flaherty, LLP
• Mary Schwind | Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission
• James H. Smith | New England First Amendment Coalition
• Susan Spencer | Worcester Telegram & Gazette
• Gregory V. Sullivan | Malloy & Sullivan
• Jonathan Van Fleet | Concord Monitor
• Todd Wallack | The Boston Globe
• Nancy West | InDepthNH
• Brooke Williams | Boston University
• Steven Wilmsen | The Boston Globe

Journalism Fellows

Pictured above, from left to right: (Row One) Adams, Binkley, Gomes, Krasselt, DeAngelis (Row Two) Drane, Busemeyer, Freese, Andrews, Ferguson (Row Three) Eichacker, McDermott, Sukiennik, Ryan, Shanahan (Row Four) Bramson, Silverman, Niles, Pinzon, Hanson (Row Five) Konopka, Sutherland, Campbell, Gardner, Petrishen.

Connecticut
• Stephen Busemeyer | Hartford Courant
• Jill Konopka | WVIT-Hartford
• Kaitlyn Krasselt | Norwalk Hour
• Martha Shanahan | The Day

Maine
• Abigail Adams | Lincoln County News
• Charles Eichacker | Kennebec Journal
• Callie Ferguson | The Forecaster

Massachusetts
• Collin Binkley | Associated Press
• Amanda Drane | Berkshire Eagle
• Melissa Hanson | MassLive
• Brad Petrishen | Telegram & Gazette
• Greg Ryan | Boston Business Journal

New Hampshire
• Caitlin Andrews | Concord Monitor
• Allison DeAngelis | Eagle-Tribune
• Casey McDermott | NHPR
• Paige Sutherland | NHPR

Rhode Island
• Kate Bramson | Providence Journal
• Susan Campbell | WPRI-Providence
• Derek Gomes | Newport Daily News
• Diana Pinzon | WPRI-Providence

Vermont
• Alicia Freese | Seven Days
• Tommy Gardner | Stowe Reporter
• Hilary Niles | Independent
• Adam Silverman | Burlington Free Press
• Greg Sukiennik | New England Newspapers

Program Topics Include

• Tales from the Trenches | Panelists will share their practical experience in investigative work through painstaking interviewing and use of freedom of information laws to unearth corruption and bring truth to light.

• Common Pitfalls | Panelists will discuss how to accessing documents through FOI requests and how to respond to denials.

• Tips for Staying Out of Legal Trouble | A team of media attorneys will explain common issues of concern in defamation and privacy law.

• State FOI Law | The specifics of each state’s public records and open meeting laws will be discussed and cases will be reviewed in break-out sessions with knowledgeable attorneys and journalists from each state.

• The Confrontational Interview & Transition to Audio or Video | Veteran journalists will discuss how to prepare for difficult interviews and provide strategies on how to engage viewers and listeners.

• Writing Workshop and Narrative Flow | Fellows will learn narrative writing techniques and how to improve their storytelling.

• Hunch to Headline | Fellows will learn the steps necessary to follow up on a lead using publicly available databases and how to turn that information into a compelling story.

• Effective Sourcing | Panelists will discuss how to best develop sources and relationships, and how to evaluate information.

Event Photos